ALCS Gm.1 betting preview: Tigers at Yankees

The New York Yankees have no time to rest from their hard-fought triumph over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series as they host the Detroit Tigers in Game One of the AL Championship Series on Saturday. CC Sabathia tossed a four-hitter and Curtis Granderson went 2-for-3 with a homer as New York posted a 3-1 victory in the decisive fifth game of the ALDS on Friday. Granderson entered the contest just 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the series.

Less than 24 hours after wrapping up the series, the Yankees will take on a Tigers team that nearly squandered a 2-0 series lead against the Oakland Athletics. Reigning AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander struck out 11 in a four-hit shutout in Game 5 at Oakland on Thursday, sending Detroit to the ALCS for the second consecutive year. It advanced to the second round last season by defeating New York in the ALDS.The Yankees went 6-4 against the Tigers during the regular season, taking two of three at Yankee Stadium and four of seven at Comerica Park.

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for cool temperatures in the mid-40s this evening in New York. Winds will blow out to left field at 8 mph.

Fister pitched seven innings against Oakland in Game 2 of the ALDS, allowing two runs and six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts en route to a no-decision. The 28-year-old faced New York once during the regular season and did not factor in the decision despite yielding only two runs over 6 1/3 frames. Fister, who is 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA in four career regular-season starts against the Yankees, gave up one run over five innings to pick up the win versus New York in Game 5 of the 2011 ALDS.

Pettitte took the loss in Game 2 of the ALDS against Baltimore, surrendering three runs and seven hits in seven innings. The 40-year-old, whose 19 victories are the most in postseason history, did not face the Tigers this year but is 10-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 23 career starts against the AL Central champions. He has not faced Detroit since 2008. Pettitte is 2-1 in three playoff starts at the new Yankee Stadium.

TRENDS:* Yankees are 5-1 in Pettitte’s last six starts vs. Tigers.* Under is 4-1 in Pettitte’s last five starts vs. Tigers.* Tigers are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games.* Under is 6-1-2 in Tigers' last nine games overall.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Pettitte was the only starting pitcher from either the Yankees or Orioles to allow three or more runs in a game during their Division Series.

2. The Tigers have won each of their two playoff meetings with the Yankees, taking the 2006 ALDS in four games and last year's first-round series in five contests.

3. Barring a rainout, New York will become the first team in playoff history to host games on five consecutive days.

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The Sabres were expected to move players at the trade deadline, but sending their top goaltender to the Islanders appears to be a rather curious move. Buffalo had already moved Jhonas Enroth to Dallas in exchange for Anders Lindback, who began his career with the lightning.

Lindback has been brutal this season, posting a record of 0-7-0 with a 3.95 GAA in seven starts with the Stars. He seems to be the most likely candidate to start tonight in Tampa. In the event that the Sabres choose to press Johnson into action, he's not been that sharp either, coming off a loss to Carolina that saw him surrender five goals on 41 shots.

Tampa owns the NHL's most potent offense, averaging over 3.3 goals per game. That could spell disaster for the Sabres who own the league's worst defense, surrendering more than 3.3 goals per game.

Tampa has won it's last three versus the Sabres, totaling a dozen goals in those three games. We should expect Lightning to strike in Tampa tonight.

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